Sen. Bob Corker and President Trump's relationship is on thin ice
video by Michael Schwab/Tennessean

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U.S. Sen. Bob Corker advises the crowd there will be a delay to the start of a rally for President Donald Trump at Municipal Auditorium on March 15, 2017, in Nashville.(Photo: George Walker IV / File / The Tennessean)Buy Photo

As he is known to do, President Donald Trump resorted to name calling Tuesday in his latest Twitter attack on U.S. Sen. Bob Corker.

"The Failing @nytimes set Liddle' Bob Corker up by recording his conversation. Was made to sound a fool, and that's what I am dealing with!" Trump tweeted.

It wasn't immediately clear why he chose this incorrect spelling of "little" to berate Corker, but there were reports during the 2016 presidential campaign that Trump did not want to pick Corker for a cabinet post because he is of small stature. Corker was on the short list for vice president, though.

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Late Sunday, the New York Times published an interview with Corker where he said the president's threats could put the country "on the path to World War III." The New York Times released the audio of their interview with Corker after they published the story.

The Failing @nytimes set Liddle' Bob Corker up by recording his conversation. Was made to sound a fool, and that's what I am dealing with!

Jonathan Martin, a Times reporter who helped write the story, Tweeted on Sunday Corker knew he was being recorded and his aides recorded the conversation as well.

The interview was the culmination of a back-and-forth Sunday between the two Republicans. Trump initially tweeted Corker "begged" for his endorsement but didn't have the "guts" to run for re-election. Corker and his team denied the statements, while Corker tweeted it was disappointing the White House had become an "adult day care center."

A fellow Tennessee Republican, Rep. Diane Black, launched her own attack at Corker Tuesday. In an interview with conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt, Black — who is running for governor — said "I think the Senate is an adult day care center."

Trump surrogates took to attacking Corker as well on Monday, including ex-White House adviser Steve Bannon calling on Corker to resign. Weeks ago, Bannon had named Corker as a potential target for a primary opponent.

A Corker spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a question about Bannon's statement.